o India is a growing economy and potential market for American goods.

What American goods besides the Old El Paso taco shells that are all the rage at kitty parties do you speak of? Subsidized agricultural commodities?

If you find one, let me know Unless you’re trying to describe the one that can’t send its army to 15-20% of its territory because its controlled by Maoists or other rebels, the one that has two major parties both of whom are implicated in communal pogroms in the last 25 years, and the one that is about to enter a period of major upheaval whose outcome is anything but certain.

Would recommend to people actually seriously interested in these issues Ayesha Jalal’s Democracy and Authoritarianism in Comparative Context to understand the similarities and differences among India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

But comments above do raise an interesting question as to what exactly are the unique policy issues that affects Indian-Americans if ethniticy/race based categorization is the basis for getting political support from any party ? Neverthless why should Indian issues matter so much for Indian-Americans voting in American elections ? And even if Indian/South-Asian issues do come into the discussion then what are the unique policy issues relevant to Indian-Americans ?

If Indian-Americans consider themselves Americans then it is natural that they should enthusiastically support policies that lead to stronger ties between USA and India. This is a list of a few things where America can benefit from with stronger ties with India.

o India is one of the few countries where America enjoys a favorable image, this in spite of strong American support for Pakistan and its military. o India is a growing economy and potential market for American goods. o India is a sovereign democratic republic that has cultivated good relations with countries which current American administration deems ‘rogue’ – like Iran. USA can learn a lot from India on how to manage these relations better.
o From the military perspective India one of the largest military – Indians soldiers have been deployed all over the world as UN peace keepers. Americans can learn a LOT from Indian military on how to manage peace [ When American Marines were kicking arse in Ethiopia - right before the infamous 'back hawk down' episode, Indian Armed forces (apart from peace keeping) were providing vaccinations and general health care for civilians. ]

Check the map of South Asia and find a country which is a democracy, secular, multilingual, multiethnic and a stable nation state.

wow! not to make too much light of it because i’m pretty familiar with the family/self conflict, but it’s comments like these that make me wish i had formal training in therapy

Well yeah, you said DBDs were obsessed with it, and that pissed me off. I admit I should have read what you were responding to more carefully.

Its a bit much to ask that everyone who supports Obama should support him for exactly the reasons you have.

And when did I ask for that? I was responding to a previous commenters (in my opinion, erroneous) assertion about “my” priorities as an ABD/Indian American. But I like your latent hostility, even if it’s wholly undeserved.

Well, CR, in that case you should be pleased that this guy is footing the bill for your candidate and party, in xchange of support for an issue you don’t care so much about. He obviously likes democrats, and might even agree with all the issues you raise. Its a bit much to ask that everyone who supports Obama should support him for exactly the reasons you have. Whatever happened to bringing people together, reaching across the aisle, wagerah, wagerah.